[50mhz] Re: Need advice on getting on 6M

[Bill VanAlstyne W5WVO]

Chris Boone wrote:

> But remember for mobile operation, that can be useless....a while
> back I worked Bill W5WVO while I was mobile in Vidor, TX heading to a
> Society of Broadcast Engineers meeting just up the road...Its not in
> the same Grid Square as my home QTH (in fact, there is a junction of
> 4 grids near my QTH which is EL29 for now...so watch out folks..I'll
> be active at the new QTH on 6 soon)...

Chris is right. When we first made contact, I asked him if he was mobile in
EL39, an extremely rare grid square that I needed (along with probably 99%
of everybody else on 6M). He said he believed he was, and I was overjoyed!
But after the QSO, we hooked up via e-mail, started looking at our maps in
greater detail, and realized that he hadn't been in EL39 after all
(Arrggghhh!!) but just a half-mile to the north in EM30. Close, but no
cigar.

The best way to always know what grid square you're in when mobile, of
course, is to have a GPS mounted up under the front window. Set it for
Maidenhead grid instead of Long/Lat, and you'll always know. You don't need
any fancy bells and whistles or expensive map software; the cheapest
$100-or-so GPS will do just fine for this kind of application right out of
the box.

Chris will be radio-active from his new digs in Groves, TX in EL39 real soon
now. Sure looking forward to nailing down this real rare one. Chris will for
sure be the only active 6M ham in this grid. (Maybe the only active ham,
period.)

Bill W5WVO


>
> IF the station is really hunting grid squares, they'll ask where you
> are...With my having 4 squares to deal with, it can be a hassle
> trying to remember which one I am in driving around town (well
> actually with my drive territory on the job, I cover quite a few
> grids in SE TX and SW LA! I now carry an aircraft sectional with me
> just in case ;)
>
> Now if the band would just OPEN!!
>
> Chris
> WB5ITT
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>>
>> Mike wrote
>>
>> While I don't disagree, during an OTA exchange its really not
>> all that important because with the vast number of call sign
>> look ups like wm7d.net, qrz and others you can see real
>> quickly what state they are in. And if you are into hunting
>> states then you just ask during the exchange.  OTOH  I've
>> been told that I remain in the state of confusion but I digress.
>
> Moderator: Ray Brown, KB0STN
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